Portable seat cover

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a seat cover that can be used to cover a dirty seat, bench, chair, lawn, or floor on which the user wishes to sit. The seat cover of the present invention comprises a plurality of triangular sections sewn together around a common center to form a polygon having a strap attached to the center. The rigidity and geometric properties of the polygon facilitate the seat cover of the present invention to open p like a parachute as it drops onto a seating surface until it lands thereon in a open configuration ready for the user to sit on. When finished using, the seat cover of the present invention can be stored inside a pouch having a drawstring for easy closing and transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of seat covers. More specifically, the present invention relates to portable seat covers that can be used temporarily to cover a dirty seat; bench, chair, lawn, or floor on which a user wishes to sit.

Description of the Prior Art

People active in outdoor activities or who use public transportation often encounter the need to sit on a dirty bench, seat, or chair. Often people also choose to sit on the lawn or the floor. The use of seat covers have been designed for decades to protect people from the dirty seating surfaces on which they sit. Seat covers have been designed to avoid or mitigate the user's contact with germs, liquids, dirt, and other contaminants commonly found on public seating surfaces.

However, conventional seat covers have to be placed and arranged by hand on the dirty seating surface. Inevitably, one side of the seat cover becomes dirty. As such, the placement and arrangement of said seat covers allows the user to inadvertently touch the dirty side and the dirty surface. Then, as the sitting event ends, the user has to pick up the seat cover and fold it for storage or transportation. However, picking up and folding a conventional seat cover allows the user to inadvertently touch, once again, the dirty side and dirty surface.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a seat cover that is small, portable, washable, and re-usable. Even more, it is desirable to have a seat cover that can be placed on and removed from a dirty seating surface without inadvertently touching the dirty seating surface or the dirty side of the seat cover. Further it would be desirable to have a seat cover that can be folded and stored inside a pouch without inadvertently touching the dirty side of the seat cover.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages occurring in the prior art, and it is the object of the present invention to provide a seat cover that opens on its own as it is dropped onto a dirty seating surface such that the user does not have to inadvertently touch the dirty seating surface or the dirty side of the seat cover.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat cover with some rigidity that prevents it from inadvertently folding on itself and exposing the dirty side to the user.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seat cover with a strap that can be used to pull it up from a dirty seating surface and to allow the seat cover to hang downward as it is pulled up such that the user can grab and fold thereof without touching the dirty bottom side.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seat cover that can be folded and placed inside a pouch with a drawstring for safe storage.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seat cover that is washable and re-usable.

To accomplish the above objects, the present invention is embodied in a seat cover comprising a plurality of triangular sections made of washable fabric that are sewn together around a common center to form a polygon shape and having a strap attached to the center. The stitching that holds the triangular section together also provides some rigidity that prevents the seat cover from inadvertently folding on itself. In addition, the stitching and the polygon shape allows the seat cover to open, like a parachute, as it drops down onto the dirty seating surface. Once the seating event is complete, the user can pull from the strap to lift the seat cover from the dirty seating surface. As the seat cover is pulled up, the stitching and polygon shape allows the seat cover to hang downward without exposing parts of the dirty bottom side to the user. Thus, the seat cover can be folded by the user without inadvertently touching the dirty side and placed inside a pouch with a drawstring for storage. The triangular sections are made of washable fabric material, thus, the seat cover is washable.

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and usage of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention, in the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functional similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description with considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the seat cover according to the present invention as it is used on a bench;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the seat cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a triangular section as used in the seat cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the manner in which said triangular sections are sewn together in the seat cover according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the seat cover with a strap attached at the center according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6C show a perspective view of the seat cover open like a parachute as it drops onto a dirty surface.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the seat cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the seat cover according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following descriptions for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings WO which reference is made. The words “inwardly” or “distally” and “outwardly” or “proximally” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center or orientation of the device and instruments and related parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

Although the present invention can be used in connection with any type of indoor or outdoor application, it is especially suited for seat cover applications in connection with public seats, benches, bleachers, chairs, and the like. Accordingly, the present invention will be described herein with reference to public bench applications. However, the preferred system of the present application may also be adapted for use on lawns, or floor applications.

Reference will not be made to the drawings in which various elements of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention.

The present invention comprises a seat cover 100 that is placed to cover the seated portion of a sitting place and having a plurality of triangular sections 10 sewn together around a common center 20 to which a strap 30 is attached. The present invention also includes a pouch having a drawstring and into which the seat cover 100 can be inserted in a folded configuration for storage. It is well known that public benches, seats, and the like, especially those in parks, busses, trains, and stadiums, have a tendency of being unclean and covered with dirt, germs, or liquids such as coffee, soda, melted ice cream, and the like. The seat cover 100 of the present invention allows full coverage of a seated area to protect the user from exposure to the uncleanliness of public benches. The seat cover 100 of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of triangular sections 10 sewn together around a common center 20 such that the overall shape is a polygon. For example, a seat cover 100 having eight (8) triangular sections 10 sewn together is shaped as an octagon. Each triangular section 10 comprises a top side 10 t and a bottom side 10 b. The top side 10 t is the clean side on which the user sits, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. On the other hand, the bottom side 10 b is the dirty side that covers the uncleanliness of public benches, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, The polygon shape of the present invention allows the seat cover 100 to open like a parachute as it is dropped onto an unclean bench, thus, eliminating the need for the user to touch the bottom side 10 b, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the seat cover 100 of the present invention as it would be used on a bench 200. FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the seat cover 100 of the present invention to depict in greater detail the various components that comprise the seat cover 100.

Each triangular section 10 comprises two pieces of fabric having a triangular shape. The top side 10 t the first piece of fabric, is designed to remain clean and inviting for the user to sit on. The bottom side 10 b, the second piece of fabric, is the protective layer designed to get dirty and prevent dirt and liquids from seeping onto the top side 10 t. In the preferred embodiment of the seat cover 100 of the present invention, each triangular section 10 is shaped equally as an isosceles triangle which has at least two sides of equal lengths, as shown in FIG. 3

Each triangular section 10 is created when the two pieces, the top side 10 t and the bottom side 10 b, are sewn together. As shown in FIG. 4, the triangular sections 10 are then sewn to one another around a common center 20 and along common sides such that the finished. shape is a polygon with the same number of sides as the number of triangular sections 10. For example, eight (8) triangular sections creates an octagon. The stitching 15 that holds the triangular sections 10 to one another provides some rigidity and weight to the seat cover 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, a strap 30 is then sewn or attached at the common center 20 of the seat cover 100. Said strap 30 can be an elastic loop or two non-elastic pieces that can be tied to attached together at their ends. in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said strap 30 comprise two non-elastic strips of fabric having opposing Velcro attachments 35 at their end.

Hereinafter, an explanation of the methods of using the seat cover 100 of the present invention will be given.

As discussed above, the seat cover 100 of the present invention is a made of fabric material cut into triangular sections 10 that are sewn together around a common center 20 to form a polygon with a strap 30 attached are the center 20. Upon encountering an undesirably dirty bench 200, the user of the seat cover 100 would hold only to the strap 30 only over the bench 200 so as to allow the rest of the seat cover 100 to hang as it is pulled downward by gravity, as shown in FIG. 6A. Then the user would release the strap 30 so that the seat cover 100 drops down onto the bench 200. However, as the seat cover 100 drops, it opens up like a parachute until it lands on top of the bench, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. The opening of the seat cover like a parachute is facilitated, in part by the polygon shape and the stitches 15. The seat cover 100 is allowed to open like a. parachute into its polygon shape by the drag caused by the air flow as the seat cover 100 drops onto a bench 200. Once the seat cover 100 rests on the bench 200 in its open configuration, the user is able to sit on the bench 200 while being protected from the undesirable uncleanliness by the seat cover 100.

The parachute-like opening of the seat cover 100 as it drops onto a bench is facilitated by the polygon shape reinforced by the stitching 15 that holds the triangular sections 10 together around a common center 20.

Then, after finished sitting, the user may use the strap 30 to pull the seat cover 100 upward from the bench 200. As the seat cover 100 is pulled upward, the drag from the air flow along with gravity forces the seat cover 100 to hang downward from the center 20. As the seat cover 100 hangs downward, the polygon shape allows only the clean top side 10 t to be exposed outward while the dirty bottom side 10 b remains inaccessible to the user. Furthermore, the rigidity created by the stitching 15 prevents the seat cover 100 from folding on itself so as to expose the dirty bottom side 10 b. The user then can grab the seat cover 100 as it hangs, fold it, and stick it into the pouch for safe-keeping. Finally, the drawstring can be used to close the pouch.

Accordingly, the unique polygon shape along with the stitching 15 and the strap 30 attached at the center 20 allows the user to make full use of the seat cover 100 of the present invention without having to touch the dirty bottom side 10 b. The seat cover 100 can then be washed periodically for re-use.

It is understood that the described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed, but to be limited only as defined by the appended claims herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat cover comprising: a plurality of triangular sections attached to one another to form said seat cover having a polygon shape; and wherein said polygon shape facilitates the opening of said seat cover as it drops onto a seating surface.
 2. The seat cover of claim 1 wherein said triangular sections further comprise a top piece of fabric and a bottom piece of fabric.
 3. The seat cover of claim 2 wherein said bottom piece of fabric is water resistant,
 4. The seat cover of claim 2 wherein said bottom piece of fabric protects said top piece of fabric from liquids.
 5. The seat cover of claim 2 wherein said bottom piece of fabric protects said top piece of fabric from stains.
 6. The seat cover of claim 1 further comprising a strap.
 7. The seat cover of claim 1 wherein said strap is attached to a center said polygon shape.
 8. The seat cover of claim 1 further comprising a pouch into which said seat cover is inserted for storage.
 9. The seat cover of claim 8 where said pouch further comprises a drawstring.
 10. The seat cover of claim 1 wherein said triangular sections are attached to one another with stitches.
 11. The seat cover of claim 10 wherein said stitches provide rigidity to the seat cover.
 12. The seat cover of claim 10 wherein said stitches provide weight to the seat cover.
 13. The seat cover of claim 10 wherein said stitches facilitate the opening of the seat cover as it drops onto a seating surface.
 14. The seat cover of claim 1 wherein said polygon shape comprises eight triangular sections to form an octogon.
 15. A seat cover comprising: a plurality of triangular sections attached to one another by stiches to form a seat cover having a polygon shape; wherein said stiches provide rigidity to said seat cover; and wherein said stiches and said polygon shape facilitate the opening of the seat cover as it drops onto a seating surface.
 16. The seat cover of claim 15 wherein said stiches provide weight to said seat cover.
 17. The seat cover of claim 15 wherein said triangular sections further comprise a top piece of fabric and a bottom piece of fabric.
 18. The seat cover of claim 17 wherein said bottom piece of fabric is water resistant.
 19. The seat cover of claim 17 wherein said bottom piece of fabric protects said top piece of fabric from liquids.
 20. The seat cover of claim 17 wherein said bottom piece of fabric protects said top piece of fabric from stains.
 21. The seat cover of claim 15 further comprising a strap.
 22. The seat cover of claim 21 wherein said strap is attached to a center of said polygon shape.
 23. The seat cover of claim 15 further comprising a pouch into which said seat cover is inserted for storage.
 24. The seat cover of claim 23 where said pouch further comprises a drawstring.
 25. The seat cover of claim 15 wherein said polygon shape comprises eight triangular sections to form an octogon. 